In Tamil Nadu, another couple, Solairaj and Petchiammal in Kolathur near Vilathikulam of Thoothukudi district have lost their lives in a suspected case of honour killing. This is the second such case in less than week in the state. The couple had been married for the past four months and belonged to different caste groups from Scheduled Castes (SC).

Solairaj and Petchiammal belonged to Parayar and Pallar community, respectively, and were working together in a saltpan when they decided to marry four months back. They were living in a rented single room house in the locality. They were hacked allegedly by the family members of Petchiammal, including her father in the early hours of July 4. He was working abroad and had arrived back only a week ago.

K Samuvel Raj, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication front (TNUEF) told NewsClick, “Honour killings in the name of caste have been increasing in the state. The issue of Solairaj and Petchiammal are another case where both belonged to the SC community but different subcastes. The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cannot be implemented as both of them belong to the SC community. There is no provision for financial aid or any other government welfare for the family. The TNUEF is demanding the formation of a special act to prevent such honour killings.”

Last week, Kanagaraj and Dharshinipriya were hacked to death allegedly by the brother of the former in Mettupalayam near Coimbatore. The TNUEF has been insisting on a special act to prevent honour killings, since the murders, in most of these cases, are being carried out by family members resulting in the absence of eye witnesses. This leads to very low conviction in the cases. It is high time that the union and state governments enact a special act to prevent such heinous crimes.